It sounds like Apple is still in the experimentation stage “with screens ranging from 4.8 inches to as high as six inches.” But the Journal says “people familiar with the company’s internal deliberations and plans indicate it [Apple] appears more willing to move ahead than in years past.”

The iPhone’s current 4-inch display remains smaller than most of its competition. Apple executives have said that the company’s test for making the right iPhone size is whether it can be held and used comfortably in one hand.

Don’t expect larger iPhones until at least next year. Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C (both of which will not change in screen size) at its September 10th media event.

The future screen size Apple is most focused on right now is 4.8-inches, according to the Journal’s report. Apple suppliers are reportedly testing larger displays already, so we should presumably start seeing part leaks soon.

It still annoys me to kingdom-come that Apple still hasn’t gotten with the times in terms of screen size on smart phones. LAME!!!

Hope this proves true sooner rather than later… even tho I know it won’t. :-(

Gregory Wright

Over the last two to three years Apple has successfully introduced a number of new or updated products: hardware, software and services. I suspect Apple’s position on the larger screen for the iPhone is if there is a demand for it they will build it in due course. The company is already experiencing supply (production) difficulties with its suppliers because of the high demand for Apple products. Considering the success of the company, Apple can afford to take its time developing a larger screen for the iPhone.

lwdesign1

I’d personally like a slightly larger screen on my iPhone (I have the 4S currently) and 4.5″ or 4.8″ might be just right. I don’t, however, think that Apple is lame for not being “with the times”, as the iPhone 5’s 4″ screen is a good size–and no one says that Samsung or HTC are the companies that dictate what “the times” are by any stretch of the imagination. It is very important that the phone not be so large that it can’t be comfortably operated with one hand. I may upgrade from my 4S to the 5S or 5C (unless the “C” stands for “China only”), but I’m still very pleased with the 4S’s speed. I owned and used an original iPhone 16GB model bought in 2008 right up until early 2012, and the speed increase to the 4S was amazing. I’m looking to be wowed again by the 5S.

rammo123

I think the worse thing to come from the death of Steve Jobs is that Apple has lost their conviction. In the Jobsian era, Apple made judgements about what a good product was, and never deviated from that judgement – even in the face of criticism. It was that conviction that made those products truly and uncompromisingly great. Nowadays, Apple seem to be on track to follow everyone else, whoring themselves out to whoever will give them money.

kemmertindy

I HATE the fact that people want Apple to be like Samsung. If you want a Samsung phone, buy one.

juanmanass

I think the worse thing to come from the death of Steve Jobs is that Apple has lost their conviction. In the Jobsian era, Apple made judgements about what a good product was, and never deviated from that judgement – even in the face of criticism. It was that conviction that made those products truly and uncompromisingly great. Nowadays, Apple seem to be on track to follow everyone else, whoring themselves out to whoever will give them money.

Well, I could not disagree more.

First, apart of the ipad mini, Apple keep doing what they want. Next week they are launching 2 new phones, none of them with big screens.

Second, Jobs changed his mind many times during its career.

lwdesign1

I think the worse thing to come from the death of Steve Jobs is that Apple has lost their conviction. In the Jobsian era, Apple made judgements about what a good product was, and never deviated from that judgement – even in the face of criticism. It was that conviction that made those products truly and uncompromisingly great. Nowadays, Apple seem to be on track to follow everyone else, whoring themselves out to whoever will give them money.

Apple can never catch a break from critics. Apple is criticized for not having greater selection of phone sizes (even under Steve Jobs) and now is being criticized for even testing larger screen sizes because they’re “bowing to consumer pressure.” Either way, Apple is considered “wrong” by some group. With the popularity of larger phones, it might be an excellent strategy to create an optional of larger screen model and see how the buying public responds with their wallets. Apple’s designers and engineers will always take into account the primary factor of usability and functionality. If Apple tried to do everything “the way Steve did it” we’d be technologically stuck in 2012. Times and tastes change. The one thing I’m satisfied about Apple is that they will continue to give us gorgeously engineered and insanely great, user-friendly products.

Even Steve changed his mind. I recall Steve saying at a keynote address in the late 90s that 100 pixels per inch had been determined to be the perfect screen resolution for computer monitors by the Apple engineering team, yet only a few years later screen resolutions started to creep up and up. The new high-density displays on MacBook Pros, iPads and iPhones are an example of how tastes and ideas change.

Punkxinxdrublic

Remember that when apple makes a product, they do it right, the first time. How long did it take for them to get LTE into their phones? Well behind the competition right? But the competition had been bleeding battery life that entire time just to have an “edge.” Later on the chip technology improved, which “ironically” thereafter, Apple finally put LTE into their phones. They waited so their phones with LTE would maintain great battery life as they always have. A bigger screen? It will come due time, no, not because Apple is giving in to the customer demand or wanting to be like Samsung, but because they want to do it right.

About the author

Alex Heath is a senior writer at Cult of Mac and co-host of the CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like "ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation." If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Twitter always works too.

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